episode_0340

The light source that illuminated the blue sky is fading away.

White clouds cover everything at once.

As dark, murky clouds appear, flaunting their presence, the area gradually becomes darker.

It won’t be long before water droplets start to fall from the sky.

It will knock on the windows, pound the floor, and dye the whole world in raindrops.

That’s why I don’t like it. My whole body shrinks.

How can the same water give such different feelings?

It was not uncommon for students to be bullied by vicious classmates at school.

The feeling of damp clothes sticking to my clothes has become familiar to me at some point.

At some point, even my hair getting soaked in water became boring.

Even if I end up looking like a wet rat, I’ve come to accept it.

Anyway, since it’s a towel, you can just hide it. If you secretly hide a hair dryer in the infirmary and come back soaking wet, the infirmary teacher will give you permission with a pitiful look.

In the end, it all ends when you stop.

Because water disappears someday.

But even though it was the same water, those raindrops falling from the sky didn’t feel the same.

Obviously, rain falls equally on all surfaces.

It falls evenly in all places and moistens the ground.

But why? I never felt that way when it was raining.

It seems like it falls only on me.

I feel like I’m just falling into the places I walk.

…so I don’t like it.

On rainy days.

The umbrella I brought in advance must have been stolen by someone, and a raincoat is out of the question.

Even if it is discovered later, he will either ruin it as if it were nothing, or bring it back the next day and openly claim that he borrowed it. It’s a typical repertoire.

In the end, I have to walk step by step through the rain at school. I have no choice but to walk through the unpleasant rain.

Lonely.

Alone.

Shrinking in silence.

Regardless of the season, you always have to go through bone-chilling raindrops.

But that day was different.

-Flutter.

An umbrella that never existed before covers your head.

The raindrops did not fall from my head at that moment. They were blocked by something large and covered my body straight up.

Moisture does not stick to clothes.

Hair doesn’t get tangled when wet.

As the weight falls, the body that was curled up naturally straightens.

The cold air is covered with something warm just for this moment.

The first unexpected change was changing my perception of rainy days.

***

▶Hidden Memorial has ended.◀

“…”

The view returns. The place where I stayed in bright light has changed to a dark basement. Just like how memorials usually end.

however…

Something was a little strange.

“It’s true that the memorial appeared in the same way as before.”

When I tried to recall the memory of when I entered the basement, it said Memorial.

If you look at the status window again now, it says Memorial.

And in my experience overall.

A collection of information provided by this game, containing someone’s memories.

That was the memorial, and it was true that I had come to see the memorial.

But I just don’t get it.

“It’s so different from what I’ve seen so far for a memorial…”

It was so different from any memorial I had ever seen before.

Unlike the images showing living, breathing, moving people, these were not memories, but appeared only as brief images.

No human voices were heard. No thoughts or ideas were conveyed. The only sounds were the sound of raindrops falling and the sound of umbrellas opening.

The view is not blocked. However, the target is not visible. Even the shadows are blurred into a blurry mosaic, making it impossible to tell.

All other information seemed to be blocked and disconnected, transmitted solely through my eyes.

…so I don’t know.

What the heck is going on here?

“… What’s certain is that it’s not Karsine’s memory.”

The only thing that is certain is that it is set in a modern day setting, not a medieval one. And the city center with the school clearly visible is definitely not something that belongs in Carsane’s memory.

If so, it is likely a part of my memory, as the term hidden memory has been appearing frequently recently.

But even that felt uncertain.

“Vira…”

I looked back at those scenes again.

A scene of the blue sky changing.

A scene in the sky where the sun is gradually covered, the light is diminished, and the clouds bring darkness.

And then, soon, it starts to rain.

That’s all I saw.

But was there anything like the thought that came to mind when I saw that rain?

Or maybe there was something I missed that day.

“…I don’t know.”

Has there ever been a day like this?

Was there a scene like this?

Have you ever had a memory like this?

I couldn’t figure out anything.

at that time.

The status window sounded an alarm, telling me to come to my senses.

-Tiring!

▶You have acquired .◀

▶Open the box and check the message he left.◀

“…”

Yeah. Rather than trying to remember things like that, I guess I should use the information I have now.

-Click.

The ship was opened immediately.

I thought there would be something there since it was said to be the relic of the Duke of Bagrand, but it didn’t seem to have any special devices.

Inside was a small document.

If there was a characteristic… it was that it was written in a hastily scribbled style. And there was blood all over the document.

“Duke Bagrand was supposed to have died before Karsain arrived… right?”

I don’t know the exact information. Even in the workshop, if you try to find it, a dead trigger will occur.

However, if there is one thing to remember.

The point was that Karn Bagrand also died along with the Duke.

『The world is wide. There are countless people, and there are talents that cannot be nurtured. However, I saw an absurd being there.』

“That’s the devil. What I saw was the devil. It’s truly the only way to describe it.”

『Oh my goodness. How could they do something like that? A plan to use Yggdrasil… How ridiculous…!』

“…What is this?”

Demon? Yggdrasil plan?

It looks like it was written in a hurry… but information that was hard to grasp came rushing in like a tidal wave.

“Wederos was right. We must stop that demon. We must stop it at all costs.”

『Karn, who had been smart since childhood, was shocked when he heard this fact. Their opinions quickly came to a consensus.』

“Please, that child. That child whom Karn risked his life to save in my place, I hope will arrive safely.”

“Karn…?”

If it’s Karn, then he’s the real son of the Duke.

Who did you save by sacrificing your life?

Who would be able to do that?

My head is spinning.

Disjointed information circulates and causes confusion.

This can’t be happening.

“With this alone… I can’t figure it out. Isn’t there something else, something else?”

While I was looking through the peacock’s belongings inside the ship.

The status window blew its horn once again.

-Tiring!

▶Episode XLIV. Five Treasures in progress.◀

▶You have acquired your first treasure.◀

▶To obtain the next treasure, you must complete the mission at the given location and obtain information.◀

[ 1. Field in the study of the Duke of Bagrand ]

[ 2. Bookcase next to the lighting stand on the 3rd floor ]

[ 3. ─────── ]

▶Go to the location and get information.◀

“…”

Next, it became clear what I had to do.

Now that we have a clearer objective, we can just get out there and do these missions.

But this is…

-dripping.

“Carcein. I think I should get out of here soon.”

Harnie, who was watching the net, spoke to me at the same time as the knock.

…Let’s go out for now.

You have to go out and think.

***

After leaving the basement, I quickly hid in another room.

“Phew. That was close.”

Not long after, two people passed out of the room. Only then did Harnie calm down from her shock and feel relieved.

“Did you find what you needed?”

I nodded silently.

“Thank goodness. I was worried I wouldn’t find it in time.”

Harnie confessed that he was so nervous that cold sweat ran down his forehead. He told her to rest for a bit and then go.

I’m watching and I don’t know what to say.

‘I need to ask for more help here…’

I’m not the type of person to get involved like this.

You’re only going to suffer because you got involved for no reason because of me.

I am not the type of person who should be wanted. Of course, I did not commit a crime, but this woman, who is the epitome of innocence, should not be tainted.

You should have left the duke’s house a long time ago and returned to the marquis’ residence to clear yourself of suspicion.

I had to wander around an already dangerous place, and it felt really bad to have to make things even harder here.

“Why? When you stare at me like that… I feel a little embarrassed too…”

So. I wanted to give at least an answer.

I said, holding Harnie’s hand as she slightly avoided eye contact, as if she was embarrassed.

“Harnie. You said so. Don’t you think I see something different?”

“Uh… Yes. That’s right…?”

“That’s right. I see something completely different. Something unknown that you can’t see.”

“You already know that from Pollux. It’s the Eye of Wederos anyway─”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

Harnie laughed as if asking why he was saying something like that, but quickly denied it.

“You’re looking at a completely different world, and you’re seeing something completely different. The basement is telling you that something is hidden.”

“…”

“And this time, the duke’s house instructs you to search specific places. The duke’s study, the third-floor light stand, and finally the duchess’s room.”

Harnie’s pupils slowly dilate. It’s as if she had no idea she would say something like that.

I can’t explain this.

Games, status windows, etc. Even if you explain those things directly, they won’t understand.

but.

To the greatest extent possible.

I wanted to let you know that I was seeing something different.

“Thank you for being honest with me. But I still don’t understand.”

“…”

I see, that’s how it’s going to be.

“But I know one thing.”

Soon she smiled contentedly and clasped her hands together.

“There’s more to go in the workshop. So you’re asking me to help you, right?”

Please.

…That’s right.

“Yes, I would like to help you.”

Hearing those words, Harnie smiled brightly.

Harnie untied his fists and stood up.

And then he extends his hand to me.

“Go. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

I never thought in my entire life someone would reach out to me.

Besides, I thought I wouldn’t have to ask for anything, since I could handle everything on my own.

It seemed like those words would never come out of my mouth.

But… for now.

It became something I really wanted to say.

“Thank you, Harnie.”

It was truly a blessing to have someone who believed in me and helped me until the end.

…however.

“Thank you. It’s a given.”

-Thank you. Of course.

For some reason.

The author’s voice was heard.

***

-Clang. Clang.

Moved and moved again.

Every time I heard that sound, I became suspicious.

“… This is clearly the sound of the knights’ shin guards. Are those people soldiers of the family?”

“Yes. In fact, I told them to get out of the basement quickly because of those people.”

It’s strange.

The maids and servants working at the duke’s residence are mostly wandering around the duke’s residence, so it’s quite possible to encounter them. In fact, I’ve encountered them quite often.

But why are these armed men wandering around here?

When I started to have such doubts.

A familiar voice was heard from outside the room.

“Hey, do you guys really need to patrol like this? It’s annoying, so why don’t you just go down?”

…a familiar voice.

“I’m going to die in my own house! I told you to stay out of here?!”

A mixture of irritation and frustration.

It was the second voice.

The knights were sweating profusely at this.

“Miss Claire. But it’s our job, so there’s nothing we can do…”

“Yes, to some extent, I understand…”

“What the hell is understanding? How is this protection? It’s surveillance! Why are you even spying on someone who is on probation?!”

He gets so angry that he sends down the knights of his family and then goes down himself.

This… how did things get better?

A section that was impassable until just a moment ago has now completely disappeared from sight.

It was a perfect opportunity to enter the study.

In addition, I gained valuable information. It seems that Arina has issued a restraining order to Claire. Thanks to this, I also understood the deployment plan of the soldiers that Arina usually deploys when issuing a restraining order.

“Harnie.”

“Yes.”

But suddenly, in this situation… I feel a slight sense of discomfort.

I guess it’s my mood…